Someone ranked the California wine counties — here are the top 10

It's not hard to find good wine on the California coast

By Lindsay Parrill Published March 5, 2023

California, among many things, is known for its incredible wine. Throughout most of the enormous state, vineyards and wineries can be found in abundance, offering not only impeccable wine, but gorgeous scenery, centuries of culture to absorb, and someone at every turn eagerly waiting to share their wine expertise. It’s like Disneyland for the wine aficionado.

It’s easy to become easily overwhelmed, though, with such a vast selection throughout the state. If you only have time for a weekend getaway, for example, where do you turn? Napa and the rest of the Bay Area’s bountiful harvest, or do you head south toward sunny San Diego and her many offerings? The truth is, no matter in which direction you turn up or down the coast, chances are you’re not far from a gem of a winery or two. But if you’re looking for the best of the best, we found a thoroughly researched and thoughtful list of California wine regions and their rankings.

Napa Valley Vineyard — Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap Vineyard Image used with permission by copyright holder

The list takes into account things like the highest total wine awards, the highest number of points for gold medals won in wine competitions, most wine producers and blenders, most wine tours, and the highest average consumer rating for wine tours. While these counties vary depending on their category, the research found that, overall, these are the top 10 wine counties in California:

Napa
Sonoma
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
San Diego
Stanislaus
Riverside
Mendocino
Los Angeles
Monterey

Recommended Videos

Unsurprisingly, Napa and Sonoma counties clocked in at the number 1 and number 2 spots. This area is arguably the most famous area for fabulous wine worldwide, and tourists flock to the area hoping to sip what all the fuss is about. And unlike so many tourist traps that get too big for their britches, Napa and Sonoma do not disappoint. They are world-renowned for good reason.

The truth is, though, if it’s a quieter wine weekend you’re craving, even the “lower-ranked” areas like Monterey and Los Angeles have absolutely wonderful wineries to choose from, and your trip will not be lacking in flavor, culture, or entertainment.

It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to wine on the California coast.

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Lindsay Parrill

Contributor

Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…

Food & Drink

Try some of the best non-alcoholic wines on the market this Sober October

Whatever the reason you're not drinking, these are some delicious alternatives

People drinking wine together

One might opt for non-alcoholic wine for many reasons. Whether it be sobriety, health-related issues, religious beliefs, pregnancy, or anything else, the reason is no one's business but the drinker's. For several reasons, more and more people are choosing to drink less or not at all, and that is a beautifully courageous choice, no matter the reason. Having a nonalcoholic option that isn't simply soda or juice can make a person who isn't drinking feel more included in the festivities, which should always be the goal. So whether you're choosing to cut down on alcohol yourself or want a more inclusive bar cart, we salute you.

These are our top favorite choices for best non-alcoholic wine.
How is non-alcoholic wine made?

Food & Drink

What is cork taint (and what does it do to your wine)?

How do you know if your wine is tainted?

Corks spilling out of wine glass

It's a more common occurrence than we care for, but one that we've just accepted as an unpleasant inevitability in wine drinking. If you've ever had the experience of opening a cork-tainted bottle of wine, you know its cruel power well. If you haven't, you may have heard a friend describe a wine as being "corked" and wondered to yourself what that meant. Put simply, cork taint is a wicked little problem that completely destroys wine with no care in the world as to how precious or valuable or extraordinary that wine may be.

So what is cork taint, and how can you tell if your wine has been compromised?
What causes cork taint?

Food & Drink

Grenache wine: A complete guide to the best wine you don’t know much about

Put down the Cabernet and give this a try instead.

Red wine being poured into a glass

Grenache is arguably one of the most impeccable wines on the market while simultaneously having one of the most understated reputations. While wine professionals and connoisseurs have tremendous respect and even adoration for this particular varietal, the American market has yet to catch up. The big names in red wine, such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, tend to eclipse Grenache in the eye of the public, which is truly a travesty. While we're not here to shame the top dogs of the American wine world (they're popular for good reason, after all), Grenache certainly doesn't deserve to be brushed over.

Fabulously diverse and complex, Grenache is grown and produced with tremendous success all over the world. Its contribution to the legendary blends of Châteauneuf-du-Pape alone makes it worthy of applause, in our opinion. But Grenache is so much more than a contributor to a balanced blend.